Analysis of the burden of dry eye disease in Germany: a retrospective study of German sickness funds claims data

Session Details

Session Title: Cornea: Medical

Session Date/Time: Monday 16/09/2019 | 08:30-10:30

Paper Time: 08:30

Venue: Free Paper Forum: Podium 2

First Author: : -.- -

Co Author(s): :    C. Siffel   F. Ganzera   C. Joseph   N. Hennies   V. Lascano   M. Scheider              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Dry eye disease (DED) is a chronic eye condition associated with ocular pain and discomfort, and visual disturbances that can impact a patient’s vision- and health-related quality of life. However, limited data are available in Germany on the clinical and economic burden of DED despite the availability of robust medical records. This study characterized the clinical and economic burden of DED by assessing demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with DED, as well as healthcare resource use (HRU) and total costs associated with a diagnosis of DED in Germany.

Setting:

Retrospective database analysis of medical claims of approximately 3.5 million insured persons from a German Sickness Funds Claims Database (GKV). Adult patients with DED were identified during the study period of 2008–2015.

Methods:

Adult patients (≥18 years) with ≥1 confirmed diagnosis of DED at any time during the study period were included. A diagnosis of DED was determined by the presence of ≥2 independent records of driving indicators (diagnoses strongly associated with DED; e.g., keratoconjunctivitis sicca, conjunctival xerosis) or a combination of one driving and one non-driving indicator (e.g., keratoconjunctivitis [superficial and exposure], punctate keratitis) during the study period. Prevalence (per 1,000 patients) and incidence (per 1,000 person years at risk [PYAR]) were determined. Other variables described in the analyses included baseline demographics, baseline clinical characteristics, treatment history, post-index HRU and costs.

Results:

DED prevalence increased from 20.24 in 2008 to 23.13 in 2014. Overall incidence was 6.24 (2008–2015). Prevalence and incidence increased with age and were higher in women. Mean age at index was 63.4 years (incident cohort, N=35,026). The most common ocular comorbidity was cataract (48.5%) and ~36% of patients received a DED-specific treatment during the post-index period. HRU was high in patients with DED (mostly due to comorbidities); HRU and associated costs were higher in older patients. Total costs during the post-index period were higher in the DED cohort versus matched controls (€117 million vs €107 million; P<0.001).

Conclusions:

This is the first comprehensive database study in Germany that provides a better understanding of the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, real-world treatment patterns, HRU, and costs associated with patients with DED.

Financial Disclosure:

is employed by a for profit company with an interest in the subject of the presentation